But not important enough for Rusty to protect them from their mother’s illness. By now, you have probably seen/read that Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Under Texas law, she will be sent to a mental health facility until she is deemed save to return to society. I have always felt that Rusty should have been charged as an accomplis, in the death of his children. These quotes are from Rusty reacting to the verdict:
Outside the courtroom after the verdict, Yates’ ex-husband, Rusty, referred to his former wife as a “loving mother who just fell to this disease” and called the verdict a “tremendous victory.”
Rusty Yates, who divorced Andrea Yates and has since remarried, said the prosecution “just believed they had enough of the truth to proceed, they never made an effort to get the whole truth.”
“It really disappointed me that the state spent … probably a million-and-a-half dollars to get to really, what to me, was obvious from the beginning,” he added, referring to her former wife as “psychotic.”
Rusty Yates said he and his ex-wife are “good friends,” and that he likely will visit her in prison later Wednesday. He said she was “very nervous” leading up to the verdict, and that she expected to be found guilty again. He thanked the jury for “rising above superficial facts,” and said that in a mental institution she can have a “better quality of life for herself.”
Rusty Yates also said he and and his former wife often reminisce about their children.
“Not very many people knew our children … they were our lives, they were important to us,” he said.
Keep in mind that Andrea was in and out of institutions. Rusty was her caregiver. Why on earth would you leave a woman alone with 5 kids under the age of 8, knowing full well that she is schitzophrentic? Knowing full well that she has a history of not taking her medicine? Noah, John, Paul, Luke and Mary Yates were murdered and their father is just as guilty as she is.
Here is a timeline for Rusty and Andrea
Here’s a look at milestones in Andrea Yates’ life and her legal case following the drowning of her children:
_ April 17, 1993: Russell “Rusty” and Andrea Yates are married.
_ Feb. 26, 1994: Noah Yates is born. Yates later tells doctors that shortly after the birth that Satan told her to get a knife and stab someone.
_ Dec. 12, 1995: John Yates is born.
_ Sept. 13, 1997: Paul Yates is born.
_ Feb. 15, 1999: Luke Yates is born.
_ June 16, 1999: Andrea Yates calls her husband at work and asks him to come home. He returns to find her shaking and crying.
_ June 17, 1999: Yates overdoses on Trazodone, a prescription sleeping medicine given to her father after a stroke.
_ June 18, 1999: Yates is transferred to Houston’s Methodist Hospital psychiatric unit and is diagnosed with a major depressive disorder.
_ June 24, 1999: Yates is discharged from Methodist.
_ July 20, 1999: Russell Yates wrestles knife away from his wife, who was holding it to her neck in the bathroom at her mother’s house.
_ July 21, 1999: Yates is admitted to Memorial Spring Shadows Glen for psychiatric treatment and is prescribed Haldol, an anti-psychotic drug.
_ Aug. 9, 1999: Yates is discharged from Memorial Spring Shadows Glen.
_ Aug. 10, 1999: Yates begins daily outpatient care.
_ Aug. 18, 1999: Psychiatrist Eileen Starbranch warns the Yates couple that having another child could trigger another psychotic episode.
_ Nov. 30, 2000: Mary Yates is born.
_ March 12, 2001: Yates’ father, Andrew Kennedy, dies. Rusty Yates later says his wife’s condition begins deteriorating soon after.
_ March 31, 2001: Yates is admitted to Devereux Texas Treatment Network and begins taking anti-psychotic medication.
_ April 12, 2001: Yates is discharged and begins outpatient care at Devereux.
_ May 4, 2001: Yates is readmitted to Devereux and begins taking Haldol.
_ May 14, 2001: Yates is again discharged from Devereux.
_ June 4, 2001: Dr. Mohammad Saeed, a psychiatrist, tells Rusty Yates to have his wife taper off Haldol over next three days.
_ June 18, 2001: The Yates couple have follow-up visit with Saeed. Rusty Yates reports his wife is not improving.
_ June 20, 2001: Yates drowns her five children in the bathtub.
_ Feb. 28, 2002: Trial on two capital murder charges begins.
_ March 12, 2002: Yates is convicted of both charges.
_ March 15, 2002: Yates is sentenced to life in prison.
_ Dec. 14, 2004: Yates’ attorneys argue her appeal before 1st Court of Appeals in Houston.
_ Jan. 6, 2005: 1st Court of Appeals in Houston overturns Yates’ conviction, ruling that some erroneous testimony may have influenced jurors.
_ Nov. 9, 2005: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upholds lower appeals court ruling overturning Yates’ conviction.
_ March 17, 2005: Rusty Yates finalizes divorce.
_ March 18, 2006: Rusty Yates marries Laura Arnold.
_ June 26, 2006: Yates’ second murder trial begins.
_ July 26, 2006: Yates found innocent by reason of insanity.
In looking at that chart, how could Rusty leave Noah, John, Paul, Luke and Mary in the care of their mother?
I heard some sound clips of Rusty yate’s latest staements on the radio today. I agree, where is his responsibility, culpability? You hear him talk, it is creepy. It’s almost like he is glad he’s rid of her and the kids (and the bus). And he’s married again! What nut of a woman would ever take on a dysfunctional jerk like him?
Can you believe they were living in a converted bus? Two adults and 5 kids! I can tell you as a parent of two kids that living under such conditions would drive most people to the brink…
She should be:
#1. Sterilized so that there is absolutely no chance whatsoever she can ever bear children again.
2. Spend the rest of her days in an institution. I would never trust any “expert” to deem her sane enough to go out in public again. What will the vlices tell her next time? Kill someone else’s kids?
He did end up buying a home after living in the 350 sq ft bus with 4 of the 5 kids! I found his reason for divorce to be appalling; In his divorce petition, Rusty Yates, 39, says he and his wife of 11 years ceased to live together as husband and wife on or about June 20, 2001 ” the day Andrea Yates called police and told arriving officers she had drowned her children.
The divorce petition cites that the couple has no children.
If you want to really see something despicable..go to his memorial site for the kids
I wonder when he intends to update the info?
I looked at that website. Bizarre. yates-kids.org? I wonder what he is trying to accomplish? There is a “How You Can Help” page. Nothing on it yet, but I wonder what is going to be there.
I think Rusty Yates has issues himself.
It hasn’t even been touched in 2 years…:sad:
I have always thought Rusty should have been indicted for something. If he had been a better husband/father he would have taken action to get Andrea help and maybe those boys would still be alive. It’s a travesty that they gave her another trial and she will now have the chance to get out of jail someday.
While I realize she truly must have been insane to do this type of thing I am also just as sure that if she ever sees the light of day she may end up hurting someone else.
What on earth were those jurors thinking.
I cried when they described how her 7 year old son’s corpse still had his fists locked above his head from when he was struggling for his life.
It sickens me to think that they’re concerned for her “comfort”. Mental illness is what it is, but it doesn’t change the fact that she murdered 5 defenseless children. It takes a very sick person to do that and is an indication that she shouldn’t ever be among regular society again.
I really wish I could have been a fly-on-the-wall in the jury room. I can’t imagine what could have made them find her innocent.
..Chuck..
I’ve always thought that not guilty by reason of insanity is a misnomer. She’s guilty, she knowingly performed the act. Insanity is a mitigating circumstance with tregard to the penalty only, imo.
The verdict should be: Guilty, with insanity. Lock up, throw away the key.
8 Robert – Agreed. Maybe we shouldn’t put the feeble minded and mentally ill to death, but having said condition does not excuse the fact that this person is a danger to society.
..Chuck..